Unlike other A-list actresses who promote juicing, fad diets, and weight loss systems, Diaz keeps her food real and doesn’t believe in quick fixes. “Here is what this book is not,” she writes in the introduction. “It is not a diet book. It is not a workout regimen. It is not a manual to becoming a different person.”

When it comes to nutrition, Diaz hopes her readers will get the connection that food can taste good and still be good for them. She isn’t afraid of eggs, cheese, or pasta (though she leans towards whole wheat and quinoa varieties). She makes roast pork with her mom during the holidays. She cooks with all different types of oils and includes a helpful list of how to use them.

We admit to rolling our eyes a bit when she admits that she’s one of those people who doesn’t really like sugar, but that was only because we’re a little jealous our brain isn’t wired that way. And she does confess a weakness for foods that are “salty, greasy, and fatty.”

The book, which is filled with handy charts and plenty of sound scientific information, is worth a read. But if you’re pressed for time and looking for ways to make little changes that will pay off big in 2014, here’s where to start:

1. Chug Water When You Wake Up
Did you know that after a full night’s sleep, you’re dehydrated simply from breathing? That’s why Diaz fills a large glass bottle with water before bed and leaves it ready to go. In the morning, after she brushes her teeth, she chugs the whole thing. “Once I drink the water, I feel it immediately. I go from being a wilted plant to one that has been rejuvenated by the rain,” she writes.

2. Eat a Big, Savory Breakfast
When she was growing up, Diaz says that her mom always encouraged her to eat a big breakfast to give her energy for the school day, and it’s a habit that’s stuck with her. But she doesn’t reach for sweets like granola or pancakes, which can mess with blood sugar levels and cause irritability. Instead, she plays with creative combos like oatmeal mixed with sauteed zucchini and collard greens, caramelized shallots, and egg whites, which she then tops with Japanese ponzu sauce and lemon juice. “I’m always looking for new ways to build flavor and have fun with my carbs,” she writes.

3. Drink Your Probiotics
You’ve probably heard of probiotics, the healthy bacteria found in yogurt and other fermented foods that nutritionists recommend for maintaining balance in the digestive tract. But Diaz cautions that you need to read the labels and look for probiotics like L. acidophilus, L. casei, and Biofidobacterium, which survive better inside your stomach than some of the others that are used to make yogurt. To get her daily dose, Diaz chooses a rice-based probiotic drink like Bio-K Plus.

4. Love the Lemon
Diaz adds this fab flavor booster to salads (in place of fatty dressing), pastas (along with parmesan), and her water bottle. Lemons help digestion and are believed to boost immunity; they also contain lots of essential nutrients such as vitamin C, calcium and magnesium.

5. Exercise in Sneaky Ways
Diaz reminds readers that working out doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing thing. She suggests squeezing in movement when you can, whether it’s doing butt squeezes while brushing your teeth, lunges while waiting for coffee to brew, or taking the stairs (preferably at a run!) rather than the elevator. She writes, “As long as you remember that part of being active is moving continuously through the day, you can become an active person RIGHT NOW. Just move.”

She’s still a celebrity and crazy out of touch with the way 95% of people are able/choose to live, but she’s def cooler now than she used to be, plus she’s a gazillion times less horrifyingly vomit-inducing than – yecchhh, even having to type out the name makes me want to claw my eyes out – Gwyneth.

Love These Ideas on January 23rd, 2014

I guess I’m a part of the 5% who can drink water, eat breakfast, take probiotics, consume lemon, and move around. I also don’t make excuses. Excuses can keep a lot of people from doing things that are good for them.

Charli on January 23rd, 2014

I want to try her oatmeal suggestions. She is right about sneaking in exercise. I’m glad that she is not being preachy and offering suggestions that anyone can use.

M on January 23rd, 2014

She looks great. Aging naturally a bad girl who knows she’s enough is the best.

annastraveltribute on August 19th, 2014

Hi,

I wrote a blog/review about Cameron Diaz’s Body Book as I have an absolute need to share and recommend this book to you. It’s truly inspiring. In the blog I talk a bit about my own experience with nutrition and exercise, and how I recognize much of that experience in the book.
Cameron writes with great conviction about her personal discovery of the importance of being healthy, and how much more you can get from life if you are in a body that has boundless energy and capability. I hope my blog can in turn motivate you to read her book, or at least to think about healthy living.